White Dot Trail
is the shortest direct steep route up the mountain from headquarters. It is
by far the most used path to the summit and on a busy day you will have much
company heading up the mountain. The White Dot Trail begins at Monadnock State Park
Headquarters. From the eco-center the Dot ascends along easy to moderate
grades along a wide well worn path through a mix of pines, hardwoods and
spruce past the White Cross Trail junction at 0.6 mile and to Falcon Spring and Cascade Link at 0.8 mile where the White Dot Trail becomes steep
exposed ledge and rock. The White Dot Trail climbs up through a hardwood forest to just past the halfway point sign there is a view east (trees may soon grow in) where the grade momentarily eases then heads up to the Old Ski
Trail junction at 1.2 mile. The hardwood forest
mixes with spruce and bare ledge along the White Dot Trail. The trail heads up a section of steep bare ledge with views known as the Chute. The White Dot Trail climbs steeply and shortly reaches the Plateau where
views of the Wapack’s and Monadnock's summit can be had. The White Dot Trail heads on easy grades
on a well cairned and blazed route on the plateau heading towards the summit
on open ledge with dips in spruce woods in spots. The White Dot passes the Smith
Connecter (no longer on the map as of 2010) at 1.5 mile then joins the White Cross Trail at 1.6 mile. Just past the White Cross
junction the White Dot drops into the spruce forested Paradise Valley then
climbs steep exposed ledge slabs to the summit. To Descend from the summit look for "to State Park Headquarters" painted in rock and follow White Dots down.
From the start of the White Dot to Summit is 1.9 miles.
Allow 3-4 hours round trip to the summit and back for the average visitor.

Below: The Plateau on White Dot

White Cross Trail
starts from the White Dot trail 0.6
mile from headquarters and is a less steep trail to the summit than the White Dot Trail. The White Cross Trail (formerly the Spruce Link at the start) begins on easy
to moderate grades along a well worn path through spruce woods for the first 0.3 miles to the junction of the now closed; White Cross Trail to Falcon junction. The White Cross Trail heads up an area burned over in 1953, now recovering to
a forest of young birch. The trail climbs up the first steep section where there is a small view(trees may soon grow in) on a stone seat next to the trail at the top of the steep section. The trail then
passes a few springs of water and climbs moderately through woods on the rocky trail. The White Cross Trail soon
comes to a second steep ledgy section, known as the Switchback, which has some well built steps to hike on with some views east . The grade moderates and the White Cross Trail offers some nice views of Bald Rock across the Dingle Dell
Valley. The White Cross continues on easy grades to moderate grades, heading through spruce
groves and reaching the Plateau with views of the summit. Shortly
thereafter arriving at the Smith Connecter junction at 1.6 mile, then the White Cross
joins up with the White Dot Trail to the summit at 1.7 mile. Just past the White Cross
junction the White Dot Trail drops into the spruce forested Paradise Valley then
climbs steep exposed ledge slabs to the summit. To Descend from the summit look for "to State Park Headquarters" painted in rock and follow White Dots down to White Cross junction. From the start of the White Dot Trail via White Cross Trail to summit is 2.0 miles.
Allow 3-4 hours round trip to the summit and back for the average visitor.
The former, old course of the White Cross Trail
starting from the White Dot Trail at
Falcon Spring-Cascade Link junction 0.8 mile from headquarters is now is closed. For more information see Trail News+Weather.

Smith Connecter connects Bald Rock and the Cliffwalk to the White Cross Trail and the summit. The junction is marked painted; to Bald Rock. Blazed with yellow spots and S's, the Smith Connector descends at an open ledgy area from the White Cross then path enters spruce to the Amphitheater Trail at Four Spots then to Bald Rock and Cliffwalk The Cliffwalk leads to the Lost Farm Trail which will lead back to headquarters.
The Smith Connecter (no longer on maps) headed across the White Cross and White Dot Trails then on open ledge, use care to follow blazes, to the Red Spot Trail to Pumpelly to summit.

Monadnock Trails website: Author, Creator, and photos by Frederick Pitcher 2015
Use of the information on this site is the sole risk of the user. The author is not responsible for the trails or anyone's ability to follow them. In addition to the trails there are certain places in this website described that are off trail. Anyone exploring Monadnock does so at their own risk.